Xu Jixin's courtyard was not large, with three small rooms, a kitchen, a well, and a kapok tree with a trunk as thick as a bowl. It was lush but not windblown, and it was clearly a good fit for the courtyard.
The furniture inside was covered with a layer of dust. Xinghua took the bedding out to air it and busied herself cleaning.
Xu Zhuohua then realized why Xinghua had left the Xu family with her.
"Xinghua, did Second Brother send you with me?"
Xinghua's hands didn't stop moving. "No, the second young master just asked me to pack up Miss's things. I asked to go with Miss myself."
"Why?"
"Wherever Miss goes, I will go; this is my promise to Miss."
Xu Zhuohua was just saying it casually at the time, but she didn't expect this silly girl to actually believe it. She doesn't even know where her future lies.
"Where is your indenture?"
"The second young master tore it up, and now I'm a free man."
Xinghua's smile was so innocent that it warmed Xu Zhuohua's heart.
"You have always been a free person."
Xinghua tidied up the yard, went shopping, and brought back food from outside.
"Miss, please eat first."
Although it was just simple wontons, Xu Zhuohua felt like she was eating a state banquet.
At this moment, her state of mind was completely different. Although leaving the Xu family meant having to worry about making a living, it also meant that she had become completely free, getting rid of the Xu family and Cheng Muyun.
The future is bright!
"Xinghua, although my second brother gave us a lot of money, we can't be extravagant. We still need to increase our income and reduce our expenses."
Xinghua finished the last bit of wonton soup in her bowl. "Miss, what is meant by increasing revenue and reducing expenditure?"
"It's about saving money and finding ways to make money."
Xinghua counted on her fingers, "I can earn money by washing clothes for other people, and I also know how to sew. The money I earn is enough to support us."
Xu Zhuohua rested her chin on her hand, "What can I do?"
This time, she realized that she seemed to lack any skills and the means to support herself...
"Miss doesn't have to do anything; the money I earn is enough to support her."
Xu Zhuohua shook her head. "How can I let myself earn money? I have to work too."
Xinghua shook her head vigorously, "What can you do, Miss? Let me serve you instead."
"How can that be? We are equals, you understand? I can't let you serve me."
Upon hearing this, Xinghua's eyes filled with tears. "Miss, I know you've said it many times, but you haven't learned anything yet, so there's no rush."
As a college student in this new era, Xu Zhuohua used to be a complete waste of time, only knowing how to eat, sleep, and play games...
But the knowledge I've learned will definitely be useful.
Xu Zhuohua had a sudden inspiration, "Xinghua, go and buy me a pen and paper. I want to submit articles to the newspaper to earn money."
During the Republic of China era, famous people received very high royalties for their writings, some even reaching 500 silver dollars.
Xu Zhuohua didn't have such high goals; she was happy as long as she could earn five silver dollars.
Xinghua looked into Xu Zhuohua's eyes. Although she was extremely confused at the moment, her eyes were flashing with ambition.
"Miss, I think you're getting more and more beautiful. I don't want to take my eyes off you."
Xu Zhuohua patted Xinghua's head, "This is the radiance of confidence."
The master and servant spent a few leisurely days, with Xu Zhuohua writing and Xinghua sewing clothes.
Under the kapok tree, life is peaceful and serene.
However, Xu Zhuohua knew that outside, there was a bloody storm, and countless martyrs had sacrificed their lives in the protests.
Early that morning, Xu Zhuohua got ready, changed into neat trousers, put on a hat, and prepared to go out.
Xinghua stopped her, "Miss, the second young master said you can't participate in the parade, you'll be arrested."
Yesterday, the Beiyang government executed Mr. Li, a professor in the Faculty of Arts and a representative of the radical faction at Aurora University, by hanging.
Mr. Li's tragic death has thoroughly enraged people from all walks of life.
Furthermore, foreigners took over Dongzhou, seized the customs, and cut off the only sea outlet for the Central Plains.
Today, Lin Shuwen will deliver a speech at the Arc de Triomphe, cutting off his queue with the determination to die.
"I'm not going to participate in the march, I'm just going out for a walk, don't worry, I'll be back tonight."
Xinghua was still worried. "Miss, let me go with you."
Xu Zhuohua thought for a moment and realized that it would be beneficial to let Xinghua listen to Lin Shuwen's speech. What if this silly girl would awaken?
"Okay, let's go together then."
The master and servant went out. Because she hadn't been out for a long time, Xu Zhuohua was very excited and didn't notice the people following behind her.
When the two arrived at the Arc de Triomphe, a large crowd had already gathered there.
Lin Shuwen was already standing on the high platform.
In the crowd, Xu Zhuohua spotted the tall Xiao Wuxin at a glance.
She pulled Xinghua over, "Senior Brother Xiao!"
Xiao Wuxin looked worried and glanced at Xu Zhuohua indifferently, saying in a very soft tone, "Zhuohua."
Xu Zhuohua sensed something was wrong with him. "What's wrong with you?"
Xiao Wuxin looked at Lin Shuwen on the high platform, "I have tried to persuade her for a long time, but she won't listen to a word. She insists on going up and saying that she wants to wake up the person who is pretending to be asleep."
"Huh?" Xu Zhuohua feigned surprise.
“The teacher has been standing there for more than two hours. Now there are more and more people. Mr. Li was just hanged yesterday. I’m really afraid that the teacher will be arrested too.”
Xu Zhuohua pursed his lips. Actually, Lin Shuwen wouldn't be arrested. He had a prestigious status, and many officials in Xinhai City were once his students. They didn't dare to show their faces.
As a representative of the radical faction, Lin Shuwen's ending was relatively good; he lived for another ten years or so before passing away from illness.
"Don't worry, Dr. Lin has a distinguished status, no one dares to touch him."
Xiao Wuxin covered his face, "A lot of things are uncertain now!"
Before Xu Zhuohua could say anything more, a powerful shout came from the high platform.
"Fellow countrymen! The edifice is about to collapse!"
It's starting! Lin Shuwen's exciting eyes are about to open!
From that day on, Xiao Wuxin also became a steadfast warrior.
"Fellow countrymen, Dongzhou has been lost! The heartland of our nation! It has been seized by the great powers!"
"What a disgrace! From 1842 to the present, the spine of China has never been straightened for a single day!"
"They have deceived my monarch, humiliated my people, and seized my land!"
...
"How can we save the nation? Only you gentlemen! The future of China does not lie in the hands of those high-ranking officials, nor in the hands of those powerful figures, but in your hands. The people are the foundation of the nation!"
When Lin Shuwen got excited, he pulled out a pair of scissors from behind his back.
The people below gasped in shock, and Xiao Wuxin anxiously tried to stop him, "Won't the veteran try to kill himself?"
Xu Zhuohua pulled Xiao Wuxin back, "No, Dr. Lin wouldn't do that."
"Only revolution can save the country. Today, I, Lin Shuwen, hereby vow to break with the old system!"
With a single snip of the scissors, Lin Shuwen held the braid in her hand, raised her arms, and shouted: "Reform the system to save the country!"
Suddenly a gunshot rang out, and the people at the bottom line were thrown into chaos.
Xu Zhuohua was shoved aside and pushed to another spot, staggering.
I fell into a solid, warm embrace.
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